BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MANZINI – Eswatini is definitely on the right path, as the excellence in digital applications rolled out by the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) is being highly rated and recognised internationally.
The ENPF’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Futhi Tembe, has been invited to share the Fund’s experience and best practices with other global organisations at a top ICT in Social Security conference in Indonesia this week.
The 17th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Social Security will occur from March 6–8, 2024. It is organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) in collaboration with the Social Security Administering Body for the Health Sector (BPJS Kesehatan) of Indonesia.
The acting CEO has been asked to speak during two parallel sessions on new-generation added-value mobile apps: Leveraging Enhanced Mobile Capabilities and Approaches to Improve Institutional Capacity and Security of Operations: Leveraging Cloud Technologies, which will take place on Thursday and Friday.
These sessions aim to take stock of recent case experiences and best practices from different social security institutions, like ENPF, and discuss strategies for the future. The role of a speaker, like Tembe, during this session would consist of a presentation on the experiences and initiatives of ENPF and participation in the ensuing moderated panel discussion.
When reached for comment, Tembe confirmed the invitation and said it was an honour for the organisation to be recognised for its efforts in the digital space. She said ENPF would also benefit significantly from the participation, as the conference will provide a unique opportunity to review recent progress in the data-driven transformation of social security institutions. It will also be inspired by innovative solutions and the use of emerging technologies and define digital strategies to support social security objectives worldwide. In 2022, the fund launched a mobile app known as MyENPF, together with an employer and employee portal.
“Our digital initiatives have helped ensure that members can claim, view statements, and update personal information at their own convenience. These technologies have been warmly welcomed, and usage is increasing as we have hosted roadshows to raise awareness,” she said.
Tembe shared with this publication that the app and the portal were part of several effective digital initiatives the fund has rolled out over the years to provide convenience and swift service to its members. All these products and service offerings are part of their Digital Transformation for Improved Customer Service Strategy.
Tembe will also moderate a plenary session on: Cyber security and Beyond: Building Digitally Resilient Social Security Institutions.
This would not be the first time that ENPF is given a platform at an international level, as it is common that during such gatherings, it shares its experiences with others as their service provision of social security is considered among the best in the world.
Last year, Tembe presented on behalf of ENPF on digitization at a Southern African Social Security Conference in Cape Town, and later that year, she presented at the Africa Social Security Conference in Ivory Coast on digital platforms for social security and improved customer delivery.
ENPF was established in 1974 as a retirement savings scheme, the main purpose of which is to provide benefits for employed persons when they retire from regular employment in old age or in the event of becoming incapacitated.
